Leucanthemum plant named ‘BL14007’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Leucanthemum  plant named ‘BL14007’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; re-flowering habit without vernalization; and large single inflorescences with yellow-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Leucanthemum×superbum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BL14007’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Leucanthemum plant, botanically known as Leucanthemum×superbum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BL14007’.

The new Leucanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Valley Center, Calif. The new Leucanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed proprietary selection of Leucanthemum×superbum, not patented. The new Leucanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant in a controlled environment in Valley Center, Calif. in 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Leucanthemum plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Leucanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Leucanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BL14007’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BL14007’ as a new and distinct Leucanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Re-flowering habit without vernalization.     -   6. Large single inflorescences with yellow-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more compact than plants         of the parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have darker yellow-colored ray         florets than plants of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can be compared to plants of Leucanthemum×superbum ‘Goldfinch’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,499. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differ from plants of ‘Goldfinch’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more compact than plants         of ‘Goldfinch’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not require a vernalization         treatment for re-flowering and abundant flowering whereas plants         of ‘Goldfinch’ require a vernalization treatment for         re-flowering and abundant flowering.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Leucanthemum had darker         yellow-colored ray florets than plants of ‘Goldfinch’.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can be compared to plants of Leucanthemum×superbum ‘Real Dream’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,664. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differ from plants of ‘Real Dream’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more compact than plants         of ‘Real Dream’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not require a vernalization         treatment for re-flowering and abundant flowering whereas plants         of ‘Real Dream’ require a vernalization treatment for         re-flowering and abundant flowering.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Leucanthemum had darker         yellow-colored ray florets than plants of ‘Real Dream’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Leucanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Leucanthemum plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BL14007’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BL14007’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 10-cm containers during the summer in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Leucanthemum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 25° to 31° C., night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 to 12,500 foot-candles. Plants were six weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Leucanthemum×superbum ‘BL14007’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     proprietary selection of Leucanthemum×superbum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 21° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 16° C. to 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four to             five weeks at temperatures about 21° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 35 to 40             days at temperatures about 16° C. to 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact,             upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to             vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit with about             twelve basal branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 26 cm.         -   Basal branch description.—Aspect: Upright. Strength: Strong.             Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length:             About 1.8 cm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to             137B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple; sessile.             Length: About 9.5 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Narrowly             spatulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate; clasping. Margin:             Dentate to serrate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly shiny. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Mostly glabrous; margins, sparsely pubescent;             slightly shiny. Venation pattern: Prominent midvein and             arcuate lateral veins. Color: Developing leaves, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 137C. Fully developed leaves, upper             surface: Close to N137B; venation, close to 147B. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 147C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Single inflorescence form with recurving ray             florets and tubular disc florets on a flat disc;             inflorescences held upright on strong peduncles,             inflorescences race upright to slightly outwardly; ray and             disc florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, slightly sour.         -   Flowering response.—Plants do not require a vernalization             treatment for re-flowering and abundant flowering; long             flowering period, plants flower naturally from early to mid-             summer in Southern California.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about eight to ten days on the plant;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit, about 20             inflorescences develop per plant.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm to 7 cm. Depth             (height): About 1.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 2.5 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 3 cm.             Color: Close to 137B.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About             2 cm. Shape: Flattened sphere. Color: Close to 1B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 54 arranged             in about three whorls. Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About             8 mm. Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Tri-dentate. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Aspect: Horizontal to recurved. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety;             longitudinally ridged. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 4B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 4C to 4D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 4D; towards the apex,             close to 4C; color becoming closer to 8D with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 4D; color becoming             closer to 8D with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 450 massed             at the center of the receptacle. Length: About 7 mm.             Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Short, fused tubular. Apex:             Acute, five-pointed. Texture, inner and outer surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening: Apex: Close to 17A.             Mid-section and base: Close to 1C. Color, fully opened:             Apex: Close to 16A. Mid-section and base: Close to 1C.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 60             arranged in about three to four whorls. Length: About 8 mm.             Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Truncate. Margin: Entire, membraneous. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to 137C. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright. Texture: Scattered             pubescence; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 147B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity per floret: Five per disc floret. Filament             length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color:             Close to 15A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close             to 17A. Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets. Quantity             per floret: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape:             Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 3B. Style length: About             2 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to             147D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Leucanthemum. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Leucanthemum have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Leucanthemum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Leucanthemum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind and     rain, to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 5b to 9b. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Leucanthemum plant named ‘BL14007’ as illustrated and described. 